Amalgamator.



PATENTED FEB: 17, 1903. 0.13. BURDEN 8: LP. ADAMS;

AMALGAMATOR.

APPLIGATION PILED'APE. 10, 1902.

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APPLICATION FILED APRglO, 1902.'

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hurnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OSCAR HERBERT BURDEN AND THEODORE FRIEDERIOH ADAMS, OF KASLO,

CANADA. I

MATOR;

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 720,883, dated February1'7, 1903.

Application filed April 10,1902.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, OSCAR HERBERT BUR- DENa-nd THEODORE FRIEDERICHADAMS, subjects of the King of Great Britain and residents of Kaslo, inthe Province of British Oolumbia and Dominion of Canada, have inventednew and useful Improvements in Amalgamators, of which the following is afull, clear, and exact description.

Our invention relates to improvements in ore-amalgamators, by which.gold or other precious metals maybe thoroughly and economicallycollected and separated from sand, gravel, and other earthy substances.

One object of the invention is to provide. the apparatus with means bywhich the stream of ore-bearingsand and gravel may easily be reduced toa thin layer or stratum during its passage through the sluice-box.

A further object that we have in view is to thoroughly impregnate thelayer of ore-bearing sand with mercury at the time that the layerattains its greatest attenuation, whereby the metallic particles of oremay thor- 2 5 oughly become amalgamated with the quicksilver.

Further objects of the invention are to si n1- pli'fy and cheapen theconstruction, to provide for adjustment of the power and pressurewheels, and to make provision for collection of any amalgam which bycentrifugal force may be thrown beyond the main pressure wheel or roll.

With these ends in view our invention consists in the combination,construction, and

arrangement of parts which will be hereinafter fully described, and theactual scope of the invention will be defined by the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying 4o drawings,forming a part ofthis specification,

in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts inall the figures.

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly broken away and in section, of aportion of a sluice way or box equipped with amalgamating devices of ourinvention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation thereof. Fig. 3is a plan view of the parts shown by Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 4: is anenlarged vertical section illustrating the means whereby the stream ofsand may be mechanically attenuated and the stat... 102,225. (No model-lquicksilver or mercury is adapted to be thoroughly com mingled with thesand at the period of its greatest attenuation; and Figs. 5 and 6 areside elevations, partly broken away and in section, illustrating otherembodiments of our invention.

We will first proceed to describe the embodiment of our inventionillustrated by Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, and thereafter to explain theconstructions shown, respectively, in Figs. 5 and 6.

, 5 designates the sluice way or box, which may be of any suitableconstruction and arranged in an inclined position, so that a stream ofwater will carry mineral-bearing sand or gravel through the sluice-boxin a well-known manner for the purpose of subjecting the sand or gravelto the amalgamating action of a bath of quicksilver. The sluice-boxherein shown consists of a bottom 5" and the raised side walls 5", and.in the bottom of the sluice-box is provided a trough or pocket 6, thelatterarranged at a suitable point in said sluice-box. This trough maybe formed by cutting a pocket in the bottom 5 as shown by Figs. 1, 2,and 4. If desired,

the trough maybe formed of metal or other material and set in the bottomof the sluicebox. .The trough extends transversely across thesluice-box,and it is eq nipped with a draincock 7, through which themercury contained in the trough may be conveniently'drawn cit at anytime. This trough lies below the plane of the bottom, and it is adaptedto be filled or charged with a suitable quantity of mercury, the latterfilling the trough up to the level indicated more clearly by Fig. 4.

In connection with the mercury-containing trough or pocket we employ apair of coasting rolls, (indicated by the numerals 8 9,) one of saidrolls being whollysubmerged or immersed in the mercury-bath, while theother roll is adapted to dipinto the bath. These two rolls serveimportant functions in our amalgamator, and they cooperate with a viewto attenuating the stream of sand and gravel and to forcing the mercuryinto the attenuated layer of sand and gravel, so as to more thoroughlyamalgamate the mineral-bearing ore and the mercury.

The two rolls 8 9 are greatly disproportionate, as shown by Figs. 1, 2,and 4, and the smaller roll 9 is idly mounted within the trough orpocket 6, so as to be free to rotate therein and to lie below the levelof the bath. This small roll 9 is provided with roughenedworkingsurfaces,which are preferably formed by a series of longitudinalcorrugations, (indicated at 10 in Fig. 41,) and the corrugated workingface of the roll is adapted to lift the mercury and to practically forceit through the mineral-bearing stream of sand.

The large roll 8 is supported on a shaft 11, so as to be disposedtransversely across the sluiceway, and this shaft is journaled insuitable bearings 12, which are provided on the levers 12, the latterbeing fulcrumed at 12 on the raised sides 5* of the sluiceway. The rearends of these levers are slidably received in the guide-plates 13, whichare fastened to the sides of the sluiceway and are provided withperforations, as shown by Fig. 1, and said levers are adjustablyconnected to the perforated guide-plates by means of pins 13, wherebythe levers may be adjusted, so as to raise or lower the large corrugatedroll with relation to the bath contained in the pocket or trough 6. Thislarge roll is also provided with an active surface, which is formed,preferably, by a series of longitudinal corrugations, forming the seriesof ribs Sfland said corrugated surface of the roll is arranged to dipinto or to sweep close to the bath, as indicated by Figs. 2 and 4,whereby a thin or narrow space is left between the opposing corrugatedsurfaces of the coacting rolls 8 9.

The stream of water and sand or gravel is adapted to pass or flowthrough the sluiceway in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figs. 2and 3, and the momentum of the flowing stream of water is utilized toactuate a power-wheel, which is preferably situated toward the head endof the sluiceway, said power-wheel serving as a means for positivelyrotating the large pressure-roll 8. The powerwheel may be of anysuitable construction; but as shown by the drawings it consists of disks15, mounted on a shaft 16 and equipped with paddles 17. The shaft ofthis paddlewheel is journaled in bearings 18, which are secured to theadjustable levers 19, said levers being fulcrumed at 20 to the sides ofthe sluiceway and adjustably secured to the latter. The rear ends ofsaid levers are fitted movably in the perforated guide-plates 21 andadapted to be secured thereto by means of pins 22, whereby the leversmay be adjusted to raise and lower the paddle-wheel with relation to thebottom of thesluice-box.

The shaft 16 of the power-wheel is provided at one end with a pulley 23,and the shaft 11 of the large roll 8 is provided with a similar pulley24. The two pulleys are arranged in alinement,and theyare connectedoperatively together by means of an intermediate endless belt 25, thelatter serving to transmit the motion of the power-wheel to the roll 8and to positively drive the latter within the sluiceway.

The current of water flowing through the sluiceway is adapted to carrythe sand and gravel through said sluiceway at a certain rate of speed.We have discovered that this stream of sand or gravel can be thinned orattenuated by propelling the large roll 8 at a peripheral speedexceeding the rate of the speed of the current of sand, gravel, andwater. The gearing 23 24: 25 between the power-wheel and the roll 8 isso proportioned that the said roll 8 will be driven at a peripheralspeed exceeding the speed of the current which turns the paddle in thesluiceway. We are aware that other forms of gearing than the belt orpulley type herein shown may be adopted; but the essential feature ofthis part of our invention is the provision of a suitable motormechanism adapted to propel the roll at a peripheral speed exceedingthat of the current.

The operation of our invention, as thus far described, Will be readilyunderstood. The current of water flowing through the sluiceway carriessand and gravel in the direction of the arrow, and the water operatesthe paddle-wheel so as to rotate the same, which in turn propels thegearing and the large corrugated roll 8. The stream of sand and gravelis carried by the flowing water over the pocket containing themercury-bath, and the sand passes through the space between the opposingactive faces of the cooperating rolls 8 9. The submerged roll 9 isdriven or rotated on its axis by the friction between the sand and thepositively-driven roll 8, and the speed of the roll 8 makes it act onthe sand or gravel in sucha way as to reduce the thickness or attenuatethe sand. This attenuation in the stream of the sand takes place at thetime that the roll 9 becomes effective in impregnating the sand andgravel with the mercury, and this operation tends to more thoroughlyefiect the amalgamation of the mercury and the metallic particles ofore.

The speed of the positively-driven roll 8 may sometimes have the efiectof throwing the amalgamated substance beyond the pocket 6 by centrifugalaction, and to save the amalgamated substance we have provided a seriesof collecting-pockets 26, the same being disposed in the bottom 5-across the sluiceway and beyond the roll 8, which turns in the directionof the arrow shown by Fig. 2.

Although we have shown the apparatus as having one mercury-pocket and asingle set of cooperating rolls in active relation to this pocket, we donot limit ourselves to the employment of one pocket and one set ofrolls. In Fig. 5 the sluiceway is equipped with a series ofmercury-pockets, (indicated at 6 6,) having drain-cocks 7 7. In thepocket 6 is disposed the smaller roll 9*, which lies immediately belowthe large roll 8, while the rolls 8 9 have cooperative relation to thepocket 6. The roll 8 is driven by gearing from the power-wheel, asshown, and this roll has a pulley 24E somewhat larger than the pulley 24and arranged to receive a belt 27, the latter extending to the pulley28,which is provided on the shaft 11 of the large roll 8. The two rolls8 8 are thus positively driven, and the material passing through thesluice'way is subjected to the action of the series of amalgamatingdevices.

In Fig. 6 we have represented the sluiceway as having the inclinedportion 'or dipsection 29, so that one section of the sluiceway willoccupy an elevated position, as at 30, with relation to the othersection 31 of the sluiceway. The power wheel and the parts associatedtherewith are supported in the upper section 30 of the sluiceway; butthe amalgamating devices are disposed in cooperative relation to thelower section of said sluiceway. The amalgamating devices consist of themercury-containing pocket or trough and the two rolls having thearrangement and construction heretofore described. The advantage oflocating the amalgamating device below the horizontal plane of the motordevice resides in the employment of a screen of any suitable character,(indicated at 32,) said screen extending from the elevated section 30 ofthe sluiceway and adapted to carry elf the large stones or pieces ofrock, which may be transported through the sluiceway by the action ofthe current of water.

It should be noted that the collecting-pockets 26 are situated close tothe trough or chamber 6, so as to return the collected mercury back tothe trough 6. This end maybe secured in any suitable way either byallowing the mercury in the collecting-pockets to overflow back to thetrough 6 or by making the pockets communicate with the trough.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent 1. An amalgamator, comprising a sluicewayhaving an amalgam-reservoir, ore-attenuating mechanism situated in thesluicewa-y and having revoluble members of different sizes disposed incooperative relation to each other, and means for driving the larger ofsaid revoluble members at a peripheral speed exceeding the rate of flowof water and auriferous material through the sluiceway.

2. An amalgamator, comprising a sluiceway having an amalgam-reservoir, aset of cooperating attenuating-rolls disposed in the sluiceway andone ofsaid rolls housed in the amalgam-reservoir, and means for positivelydriving another roll of said set.

3. An amalgamator, comprising a sluice-' way having a reservoir-pocket,a set of oreattenuating rolls of different sizes, the smaller roll ofsaid set being housed in the reservoirpocket, and the larger roll beingdisposed in the sluiceway and in cooperative relation to the smallerroll, and means for driving one of said rolls.

4. An amalgamator comprisinga sluiceway having a mercury pocket ortrough, and a set of attenuating-rolls, one of which is immersed orsubmerged in a mercury-bath within said pocket or trough.

5. An amalgamator comprising a sluiceway having a mercury pocket ortrough, and a set of attenuatinguolls, each having a roughened activesurface and disposed in cooperative relation to said trough, one of saidrolls being immersed in the trough, and the other of said rolls adaptedto be positively driven.

6. An amalgamator,comprisingasluiceway having an amalgam-pocket, a pairof cooperating attenuating-rolls, one of which is immersed in a bath ofsaid pocket and the other is disposed in the sluiceway, means fordriving the last-mentioned roll, and collectingpockets arranged in thesluiceway beyond the rolls and adapted to collect matter which may becentrifugally thrown by said roll beyond the amalgam-pocket.

7. An amalgamator,comprising a sluiceway having an amalgam-trough, a setof attenuating-rolls, one of which is immersed in mercury contained insaid trough, and the other roll is disposed in the sluiceway and incooperative relation to the immersed roll, and a current-wheel disposedin the sluiceway and operatively geared to that roll of the set whichalso lies in the sluieeway.

8. Anamalgamator,comprisingasluiceway having an amalgam-trough, a set ofattenuating-rolls, one of which is immersed in mercury contained in saidtrough, means for sus pending the other roll of the set in the sluicewayand for adjusting the same to diiferent positions relative to theimmersed roll, and means for positively driving the suspended andadjustable roll.

9. An amalgamator,comprisingasluiceway having an amalgam-trough, a setof attenuating-rolls provided with corrugated active faces and disposedin cocperative relation, one of said rolls being immersed in mercurycontained in the trough, and arranged to be driven by the other roll,the latter being disposed in the sluiccway, and means for driving saidlast-mentioned roll.

10. An amalgamator, comprising a sluiceway having an amalgam-trough, aset of attenuating-rolls of different sizes and provided with corrugatedactive surfaces, the smaller corrugated roll of said set being immersedin mercury contained in said trough and the larger corrugated roll lyingin the sluiceway and in cooperative relation to the smaller roll, andmeans for driving the larger corrugated roll.

11. An amalgamator, comprising a sluiceway having a series ofamalgam-troughs, a series of sets of attenuating-rolls, each set havingan idle roll immersed in mercury contained in one of said troughs andthe other roll of each set lying in the slniceway and in cooperativerelation to the immersed roll, and means for driving the rolls of thesets that are contained in the sluiceway.

12. An amalgama or, comprising a sluiceway having sections lying atdifierent elevations and connected by an inclined section, anamalgam-trough in the lower section of the sluiceway, a. set ofattenuating-rolls, one of which is immersed in mercury contained in thetrough, and the other roll disposed in the lower section of thesluiceway and in 00- names to this specification in the presence of 20two subscribing witnesses.

OSCAR. HERBERT BURDEN.

THEODORE FRIEDERIOH ADAMS. Witnesses:

CHARLES W'. MCANN, NEEL T. MACKEY.

